Related Experiment Video
Updated: Sep 16, 2026

A Pathway Association Study Tool for GWAS Analyses of Metabolic Pathway Information
Published on: July 1, 2020
Bayesian Genome-Wide Association Study of Feed Efficiency Traits in Pigs
Sara Faggion1, Valentina Bonfatti1, Aurora Bergamasco1
1Department of Comparative Biomedicine and Food Science, University of Padova, Viale dell'Università 16, 35020 Legnaro, Padova, Italy.
Abstract:
Feed efficiency traits are increasingly important in pig production for improving profitability and environmental sustainability. Understanding their genetic basis is crucial for uncovering underlying biological mechanisms and informing selection strategies. In this study, we analyzed residual feed intake (RFI), feed conversion ratio (FCR), and average daily feed intake (ADFI) in 201 animals. Three separate Bayesian GWASs were conducted using 29,844 SNPs in a case-control design, with the lowest and highest 15% of the phenotypic distribution selected as controls and cases (N = 30 per group), respectively, for each trait. The results confirmed the polygenic nature of the traits, identifying 4 SNPs for RFI on Sus scrofa chromosomes (SSC) 3, 13, and 15 with high posterior probability for the direction of their effects; 4 SNPs for FCR on SSC 8, 14, and 17; and 8 SNPs for ADFI on SSC 1, 2, 6, 8, and 11. A candidate gene search identified 41 potential genes involved in diverse biological processes, including feed efficiency, intestinal development, tissue remodeling and integrity, nutrient transport and absorption, metabolic homeostasis, cellular signaling, energy sensing, and neurological regulation. These genes formed a highly interconnected network, highlighting the complexity of feed efficiency and the interplay among multiple physiological, metabolic, and regulatory pathways.
Related Concept Videos
Genome-wide Association Studies-GWAS
GWAS does not require the identification of the target gene involved in...
Incomplete Dominance
Polygenic Traits
Background and Environment Affect Phenotype
An example of how genetic background affects phenotype can be seen in horses. The Extension gene in horses is responsible for their coat color. A wild-type gene (EE) produces black pigment in the coat, while a mutant gene (ee) produces red pigment. A...
Multiple Allele Traits

